A War for King and Empire

Malcolm MacPhail #3

by Darrell Duthie

Early 1915. The Great War is only just beginning…

Ypres, Belgium Malcolm MacPhail enlisted in the army to fight the Hun and get out of town – not necessarily in that order. Now he’s arrived in the infamous Ypres Salient. It’s pouring, he’s up to his shins in mud and he’s had his first terrifying acquaintance with the enemy howitzers. The Great War is proving less glorious than he imagined.

If he’s to survive on the deadly front lines of the Western Front Malcolm must become a soldier. However, when a shady acquaintance from home turns up to remind him of his past and looking for trouble, suddenly he faces enemies in front and behind.

Unbeknownst to the Allies the Germans are readying a secret weapon, bent on conquering the Salient. Malcolm and a close-knit band of soldiers are all that stand between them and a devastating victory…

Chronologically the first in the Malcolm MacPhail WW1 gripping military historical fiction based closely on the true events.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Darrell lives in the Netherlands, not far from the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars. He grew up throughout Canada, but spent most of his youth in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains in Calgary, Alberta where he studied Political Science & Economics, and thought briefly of joining the Navy. Instead, he moved to the Netherlands to complete an MBA. After a first career in the European equity markets he embarked upon a new one in writing historical fiction. His debut novel, Malcolm MacPhail’s Great War, was published in 2017. Since then he has written My Hundred Days of War, A War for King and Empire, Vicissitudes of War, and A Summer for War. His most recent project is a WWII novel.

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The Malcolm MacPhail WW1 series are numbered in the order in which they were written. Many readers prefer reading in CHRONOLOGICAL order:

A War for King and Empire (1915-16)
Vicissitudes of War (1916-17)
A Summer for War (1917)
Malcolm MacPhail's Great War (1917-18)
My Hundred Days of War (1918)

Reviews

[Murray]

DNF

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the earlier books in the series, the character is delightful, the obstacles MacPhail faces difficult, and the resolutions realistic. This starts at the beginning of the war and fills in many of the blanks. Duthie's style of writing as well as the characterization of the hero reminds me of Len Deighton, one of the better modern writers. There is depth and a wonderful insouciance that inevitably gets MacPhail in trouble with authority, but MacPhail would not be MacPhail without that Achilles heel and the book would hardly be as good without it. As it is, the series a blast.

[Bob Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darrell Duthie scores again

Duthie goes back to introduce Malcolm MacPhail to the gritty, horrendous war in the trenches. His quick wit and sarcasm subject him to the up and down whims of senior officers but his tenacity and sense of duty stand him in good stead. A must read for MacPhail fans and those interested in the soldier's experience in The Great War.

[Stephen L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy to learn more about the Great War

I really enjoy historical fiction about WW1. The point of view of the enlisted ranks, as in this novel, puts me right there in the trenches. In my life, I've been fortunate to learn the stories of WW2 veterans first-hand. The amount of detail fleshing out MacPhail's world never gets in the way of the story. Highly recommended for those interested in that era.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much as expected and as advertised. Accurate view of WW1, harrowing reminders of what it was probably like although not gory in any way. There was a small sub plot which I enjoyed too. Light reading for such horrific times but still very much thought provoking

Marked down a star due to lack of punctuation and unknowable (for the general public) references. I had to read some sentences several times on occasion to work out what was being said and look up acronyms which even Google couldn’t find

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War I historical fiction

The first book in a series about a Canadian infantryman during the war. Here you see life in the trenches, examples of horrible military leadership, and indiscriminate, senseless deaths. The author provides us with interesting characters, a quick moving plot and the ambience of the early stages of the war. I will be reading all of the books in the series.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my guilty pleasures is reading military fiction. This is chronologically the first in this series: The Canadian Corps in WW1 from Second Ypres in 1915 to Mr. Sorrel in 1916. Well researched with believable characters, the book provides a realistic view (limited to the perspective of troops in the trenches) of the horrors of that war coupled with the stupidity and stubborness of the military upper echelons of command.

[Craig Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a splendid novel! Book 3 in a series, and each one so far has been an engaging, looked-forward-to, page turner. The prose is clever. The characters well drawn. The action scenes riveting. The series has faithfully been guided by historical events and those events have believably made use of to help drive the narrative. Can’t wait to start Book 4.

[Morris D · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very enjoyable read with an even balance

It is hard to balance the horror of industrialized warfare in its earliest iteration with wit, enjoyable characters and internal story arcs keeping tension in play. I believe this author pulled this off in this offering and for that I am glad. Big s m i l e.

[Jack Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good WWI novel

Unusually, this book is about the infantry war in the trenches. About the only thing missing is the stench of rotting bodies.
I’m particularly interested because my grandfather Thomas served in France during WWI. He came home an alcoholic, and never fully recovered.
I’m sure he wasn’t alone.

[Herbert Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me busy

I felt that this would be just another WW I review of bungling officers but it was not that at all. Though a work of fiction it was like following what was happening. I believe that this will be my last WWI book for me. It was most gratifying.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterfully weaving true historical details, people and events with his fictional characters, Duthie recreates the Canadian experience in the trenches of the Western Front in a moving, entertaining and enlightening way. Malcolm MacPhail, a lawyer and most unlikely Private, is the perfect representation of the cheeky and irreverent men Canada sent to war. Underestimated, they overperformed, yet their deeds, courage and resiliency have long been buried in the shadow of their British counterparts. Duthie sheds a new light on this period, and should be required reading for every Canadian. Well written, fast paced, incredibly well researched, grounded deeply in truth and authenticity, this book is unputdownable.

[Ernest Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Realistic doesn't begin to encompass this novel which is another misnomer. It is supposed to be fiction and the individual characters are but so well researched so well written it may well have been a history book

[Jeremy Jl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of First World War trench warfare fiction and this told from the Canadian perspective makes e refreshing change.

[09/01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

A good first introduction to world war 1,felt a little weak on the horrors of trenches. The tale is well told,hopefully will get better as story unfolds.

[John H Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

A good read which lifts itself above the gloom of the subject matter. Historically as good as one can expect from a good wordsmith. May read another in the series.

[David Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will try not to spoil this, but shit, folks should read this, he meets some very well known Canadians.

[David Haddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this series. Solid writing, solid history. My Duthie does for WW1 what Bernard Cornwell did for the Penninsula War 100 years earlier. And that is high praise from me.